How the scam works
You get a text that appears to come from Bank of Ireland, AIB, PTSB or Revolut — often landing in the same thread as genuine messages from your bank, because scammers can spoof the sender ID. It warns of unusual activity, a suspended card, or a new payee, and asks you to verify via a link or by calling a number.
The most dangerous version is callback fraud: the text asks you to call a number, where a professional-sounding "fraud team" — complete with hold music and security questions — talks you into moving your money to a "safe account". The safe account is theirs. These operations are rehearsed, calm, and very convincing; victims routinely include people who work in finance.
What the scam texts look like
Red flags
- Any link asking you to log in. Irish banks don't send login links by text.
- A phone number in the text. Never call the number in a message — find the number on the back of your card and call that.
- Pressure to move money. No bank will ever ask you to transfer money to a "safe account". That request is the scam, every single time.
- It arrives in the real thread. Sender-ID spoofing means a text appearing under "BOI" proves nothing.
What to do
Don't tap, don't call the number in the text. If you're worried something's genuinely wrong, call your bank on the number printed on your card or shown in the official app. If you've given details or moved money, call your bank immediately — the faster you report, the better the chance of recalling the transfer — then report to the Gardaí.
Got one of these messages?
Don't guess. Paste it into the free Scam-Less checker and get a verdict with a plain-English explanation in seconds.
Check it now — freeCommon questions
Why did the scam text appear in my real bank's message thread?
Scammers can spoof the alphanumeric sender ID, so their text files into the same conversation as genuine bank messages. A message appearing in the real thread is not proof it's from your bank.
Will my bank ever ask me to move money to a safe account?
No. No Irish bank will ever ask you to transfer money to a 'safe account' or ask for your full PIN, password or one-time codes. Anyone asking is a scammer, regardless of what your caller ID says.
How do I check if a bank text is genuine?
Contact your bank using the phone number on the back of your card or through the official app — never the number or link in the message. You can also paste the text into the free Scam-Less checker for an instant read on the tactics being used.